Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, May 18: Pictures of a woman patient and her attendant at the stair case of the CD Hospital in Srinagar going viral on social media sent shockwaves across Kashmir on Monday.
Media reports said that a woman, had been referred from SMHS Hospital to CD Hospital and the ambulance driver had dropped them there. “It was shocking to see how the woman and her attendant were left to fend for themselves,” said an observer.
He said, “The outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a big test for us. We had never seen what we have been witnessing during the past two months.”
An analyst said, “There is no clarity on the issue whether the woman was a suspected COVID-19 case or not. Even if she was a positive patient, this is not how you leave human beings.”
He said, “We should salute the doctors, paramedical staff and others, who have emerged as frontline COVID-19 warriors, and are putting their lives at stake to save the lives of others. Precautions are necessary but the authorities while shifting the COVID-19 suspects should take care of the protocol and follow it in letter and spirit so that no one like the woman and her attendant are dumped on stairs of any hospital in Kashmir.”
He said, “Even dying has become difficult during the COVID-19 times.”
It’s in place to mention here that recently there was a news report which stated that a body of non-local tailor was kept in mortuary for four days in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district as his COVID test report got delayed. A 70-year lady from Rainawari, who died after testing positive for the deadly virus, was laid to rest by the local policemen, as none of her relatives came forward to perform her last rites. Similarly, a non-local man who died a natural death in Kishtwar district was denied a decent burial as a section of the people objected to him being buried in a graveyard, exclusively meant for natives only.
Another analyst said, “The outbreak of COVID-19 has made the situation very volatile. People are fearing for their own lives as no one knows what fate has kept in store for him. We cannot blame anyone for the emerging situation. We are facing very difficult times. No one had ever thought that man will fear from even coming near to another man. Masks, gloves and protective gears were not even heard off.”
